PAGADIAN
CITY – Zamboanga del Sur Governor
Antonio H. Cerilles encouraged the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) to
review all matters involving police functions and administration.
In
a regional consultation and dialogue with stakeholders held recently at the
Zamboanga del Sur Police Provincial Office (ZSPPO) at Camp Abelon, Cerilles observed
that some of the police personnel were not effective and efficient in their law
enforcement operations from regional, provincial to municipal command due to
lack of logistics.
“How
can PNP personnel arrest criminal suspects if their vehicles have no gasoline
and tires?” Cerilles asked. “Some also of the PNP applicants were asked to pay 30,000-50,000 to qualify
them to join the police service. From the beginning the applicant is already
corrupted,” he added.
He
said there are also policemen involved in illegal activities such as
kidnapping, extortion, cybersex, and other crimes. “With this kind of scenario,
how can the civilians trust our policemen?” he added.
Cerilles
said the reason why he sponsored the PNP law is to address the fundamental
problems that beset the police structure and to make the PNP a truly professionalized
and dedicated police force.
The governor said it is not the capability
of Congress to review these things except the NAPOLCOM which was created by law
to do the work of reviewing everything.
Accordingly, the NAPOLCOM is an institution that exercises administrative control over the PNP. “It is their duty and responsibility to create reform from the beginning
to end,” he added.
There
is an urgent need for the NAPOLCOM to establish reward system for the PNP to
appraise their efficiency and effectiveness.
“I believe that something has to be done with our policemen to include their promotion, for them to become efficient and effective in the performance of their duties and responsibilities,” Cerilles urged.